American Express Gold Rewards Card still going strong
The American Express Gold Rewards Card is definitely in my top 3 favourite credit cards in Canada. The features I like best is the ability to transfer my points to partners, generous sign up bonus, great earning ratios on spending, comprehensive travel insurance coverage and first year fee waived. This may be one of the rare credit cards in Canada that is hard to give a recommendation for improvement.
The highlights of the credit card are as follows:
- $150 annual fee (waived the first year)
- $50 annual fee for supplementary cardholders (first one is free)
- Earn 25,000 sign up bonus points after spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Earn 10,000 referral bonus points
- Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on travel (flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, etc.), gas, groceries and drug stores purchases
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases
I just hope that this credit card continues to stay strong. The only improvement I would recommend is that there be a spending bonus. For example, if we spent $10,000 per year on the credit card, then we can waive the annual fee the following year. Another option would be that if we spend $10,000 per year on this credit card, we can earn 10,000 bonus points, or some other similar variation of a spending bonus. This way, the $150 annual fee would not be so steep the second year, after the first year fee is waived.
Also, keep in mind the changes to the sign up bonus conditions. If you already had this card before you will no longer be allowed the receive the 25,000 sign up bonus unless you are referred by a friend.
Otherwise, if you have extra room in your wallet for another credit card, I would highly recommend the American Express Gold Rewards Card on your list of cards to sign up for next.
Has there been any data points on people not being able to get the bonus a second time?
Not heard of any yet. So long as you get referred by a friend then you are fine anyway because you will still qualify for the sign up bonus.
I waited 12 months and several days after cancelling my last Amex Gold card and I re-qualified for another 26,000 points on my new one.
That is awesome, thanks for sharing your experience with us!
hi Matt,
Thanks for all you do. Excellent site and really enjoy your reviews.
I had this card 13 months ago but cancelled. If a friend refers me will I be able to qualify for the 25000 bonus?
you seem to suggest this above and I am wondering if anything changed?
Thanks
Hi mark,
Unfortunately, since January 11, 2016, you can only qualify for the sign up bonus once in a lifetime. They may reverse these changes in the future, but not for the time being.
Matthew…I had this card in the past, and had a supplemental card for my wife. We cancelled it at the one year anniversary approx. 3 years ago. If my wife now applies, and gets a supplementary card for me, she should still be able to get the signup bonus right?
Thanks for all the great work on the site.
Hi David,
Unfortunately, since January 11, 2016, you can only qualify for the sign up bonus once in a lifetime. They may reverse these changes in the future, but not for the time being. You can still give a try and see what happens. But that’s their new policy now.
Hey Matthew…have you heard anything about the trip cancellation insurance (on whatever card) not being all that valuable, and that we should actually purchase through travel provider when we book tickets? I currently have a travel card that provides trip cancellation, but not the greatest rewards anymore. I’d like to go back to the Gold Rewards Amex, but it doesn’t carry a trip cancellation coverage.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Matthew,
Which would your recommend if choosing between:
1. American Express® Gold Rewards Card
2. TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite*
Go for both 🙂